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The Canon EF-S 18-135mm is a fantastic lens with various innovative features such as fast and accurate autofocusing, easy portability, image stabilization, wide focal length range, and an attractive price. This lens is Canon’s third modification of the EF-S 18-135mm lens.
The first model was released in 2009 and featured a budget-friendly DC motor while the second was launched in 2012.
This model was designed with a stepping motor that produced quiet and smooth focus and tracking. These features make it perfect for Movie Servo AF. The latest model of this Canon was released recently and features a ring USM-driven AF.
Contents
Canon EF-S 18-135mm
PROS
- Quality construction with a transport lock
- Silent operation of optical Image stabilization
- Micromotor autofocus system ensures fast autofocus
- Minimalized ghosting and flare make it perfect for shooting in strong lighting conditions
- Wide focal length makes it an exceptional lens for travel photography, portraiture, and much more
CONS
- Shows barrel distortion at the wide end
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is Standard Zoom...- 18 135mm lens with f3.5 f.5.6 aperture; for use with APS C cameras
- 35mm equivalent to 29mm 216mm focal length range
- Dedicated image stabilization
Main Features
This Canon EF-S 18-135mm is compatible with APS-C Canon SLRs, and it does not mount on a full-frame body. It is compact and lightweight and is constructed from high-quality materials. It has a 7.5x zoom range, which covers about 29-216mm fields of view.
This is a variable aperture lens that delivers a maximum of f/3.5 at 18mm. When zoomed to 135mm, this narrows to f/5.6. If you want to upgrade from your starter zoom lens, this lens, with its longer zoom range and stronger optical quality, is the best choice.
This lens barrel is designed with two control rings. The ring at the center of the barrel adjusts the focal length, while the one at the front controls the manual focus. These rings are covered in rubber, which enables a more comfortable grip. It also has two switches. One is to switch between autofocus and manual, while the other is used to turn on and off the image stabilization system.
This lens has a minimum focus distance of 1.28 feet. The great thing about this lens is, when zoomed all the way, it gains almost macro magnification. This zoom range ensures you will not miss a shot, as the lens is very close to the subject. Moreover, the smooth zoom action shows no wobble or play in the lens barrel.
The new USM motor used in this lens is very fast and accurate. There is hardly any sound and it has negligible focus time without any sense of elements moving. It focuses faster than the previous STM version of this lens.
This lens is also impressive in tracking mode. Using the Phase-Detect AF, you can easily track a moving object. This feature will particularly make parents who are always trying to capture the antics of their children while they are moving around very happy.
The flexible focal range and 7.5x zoom ratio make this lens extremely versatile. The limitless applications for this focal range make it perfect for various types of photography.
Pros
This Canon lens is a handy addition to your lens arsenal because of its many advantages listed below:
Reduced Flare and Ghosting
Ergonomically designed for Canon EF-S mount compact system, this lens boasts precision-designed optics that work amazingly well, no matter what the subject. The 7.5x zoom ratio ensures that you are able to capture everything from telephoto images to wide-angle shooting.
Its innovative Super Spectra Coating ensures minimal flare and ghosting to provide captivating high-resolution imaging. With this extraordinary lens, you can make sure your photos retain vivid colors, artistic contrast, and crisp detail.
Wide Focal Range
The wide focal range of this lens is a highly valuable asset. Its numerous applications make it the go-to lens for many photographers. It is a convenient travel lens, as it is able to capture wide expanses with great ease. Moreover, it is lightweight, which makes it easier to carry luggage or walk around all day without feeling any discomfort.
Whether you want to capture the stunning natural beauty of landscapes or want to take full-body portraits, this lens is able to manage it all beautifully.
This lens has been updated by Canon to enhance its usability for multimedia image-makers who not only take still photos but shoot movie clips, as well. This amazing lens is a particularly excellent, general-purpose lens highly suitable for everyday shooting.
Excellent Build Quality
The build quality of this model is much better compared to its predecessor. The high-grade plastic is more durable, and both the focus ring and zoom operate smoothly. Moreover, the inner lens tube does not wobble when fully extended. Another convenient feature is the transport lock on the zoom lens, which ensures greater security.
Image Stabilization
This highly adaptable lens allows users to experiment with varying apertures. Its four-stop image stabilizer makes handheld shooting more accurate and far easier. It enables users to use shutter speeds up to four stops slower without causing any image blur. This feature also helps to reduce the effects of camera movement when shooting video while moving.
Exceptional Autofocus
The autofocus of this lens is virtually silently and extremely quick with the help of a ring-type ultrasonic motor. This ensures superior holding torque, thus allowing users to achieve a focusing point without overshooting. It features a circular aperture diaphragm that delivers beautiful bokeh effects that add a new dimension to your photographic arsenal.
Cons
This lens from Canon is a versatile product that can help push your photography skills to the next level. However, it has the following disadvantage:
Distortion
There is a significant amount of barrel distortion, particularly at the wide end, thus causing the subject in the center of the image to appear a little enlarged compared to the subject matter in the corners and sides of the image. Usually, this distortion is not apparent; however, at 18mm, the barrel distortion is 4%, which tends to give straight lines a slightly curved appearance.
What is the Canon 18-135mm Best For?
The Canon 18-135mm is a versatile, standard zoom lens that offers a wide field of view and boasts close minimum focusing distances. The images produced with this lens can magnify the distance between subjects in the background and foreground. It delivers less distortion, while the autofocus is fast and accurate.
This lens has a big zoom range that performs exceptionally well. However, if you are interested in making some videos, then adding the optional automatic zoom is a wise option. Photographers prefer this lens when they are trying to get the whole subject in a single frame.
This could be a building, wide expanses of nature or a large group of people. This lens can also be used to shoot stunning portraits.
This lens from Canon is also suitable for travel photography. This lightweight product is particularly convenient when your weight and luggage size is limited. Also, when traveling, you will be spending a lot of time carrying this lens around. Thus, it is less tiring to work with this lens.
The pictures with this lens are amazingly sharp and the autofocus is very quiet, thus making it the perfect lens for concerts, big family events, etc. If you want a versatile, good-quality lens that will not put a burden on your pocket, then this is the lens for you.
What Do I Need To Know Before Buying?
Lenses are a vital part of your camera set-up, as they can make or break your pictures. Therefore, learning about a camera before investing in it can give you the creative freedom to capture some really stunning photos.
Compatibility
This lens is designed for Canon APS-C cameras and is not compatible with full-frame cameras. Before investing in his lens, make sure it works with the camera model that you own.
Lens Mount
When you buy a lens, you want it to attach easily to your camera. Usually, camera manufacturers produce lenses with special mounts that fit only their devices. Sometimes there are multiple lens mounts for various camera lines. It is vital to know which mount is compatible with your camera before investing in a lens.
Purpose
The subject of your photography is a valuable consideration when investing in a lens. If you are going to be doing a lot of landscape photography or shooting pictures of your travels, then you need a lens with a wide focal length.
Conclusion
Covering a range of 29mm-216mm in 35mm format, this lens from Canon offers a versatile combination of features, size, and range, and perfectly complements APS-C cameras. With dedicated image stabilization, high-quality optics, and more, this lens is bound to become the favorite of EOS users.
This lens explores a completely new look for Canon’s budget lenses. It is available in a beautiful matte finish without any contrasting adornments to distract from its simple elegance. It has a minutely powdered texture, which is slightly soft and smooth to touch.
Ideal for shooting not only high-quality stills but shake-free movies as well, this lens from Canon is an intelligent choice for photographers who want a high-performance lens.
